TUKTOYAKTUK
Puppet shadows dance across a circular screen as their handlers tell a story about a sickness that has taken over a fictional land.

DAREarts instructor Cathy Elliott performs a song about being happy and finding love within oneself during her visit to Mangilaluk School the week of Jan. 19. - photo courtesy of Krista Cudmore

It has affected the peoples' souls and so they can no longer dance.

But one day, Chief Mangilaluk returns happiness to the people by performing a drum dance that heals everyone.

This was one of four stories students at Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk scripted and presented to the community Jan. 24.

Grade 12 student Sherry Gruben said it felt good to participate in the show and hear from her family that they were proud of what she did.

"I was a little nervous, kind of shy but once I got out there it's just like 'O.K., I can do this now. It's not that hard,'" she said.

"The strengths I realized in myself are that I'm not that much of a shy person when I want to be and I have leadership (skills)."

Jobey Lundrigan, on the other hand, found the performance quite nervewrecking but still enjoyed himself. The Grade 4 student said he wants to do another show minus the puppets.

The performance was the culmination of a week's worth of work with DAREarts First Roots, a program that empowers youth using photography, drama, dance and literature.

About 40 students in grades 4 to 12 participated.

DAREarts instructors Cathy Elliott and Laura MacKinnon arrived in the community Jan. 18 and met with the students the following day.

They introduced the youth to the DARE values (Discipline, Action, Responsibility, and Excellence) and explained how they could be used in a performance.

Later, they challenged the youth to choose a theme for their storytelling. The students settled on loving and caring.

From there the youth, with help from elders, wrote four stories inspired by the Inuvialuit culture.

They crafted puppets, built a circular canvas to cast the shadows on and even recorded sound effects - including wolf noises, humming and scratching - to use in the play.

Teacher Julie Donohue secured the grant used to bring DAREarts to Tuktoyaktuk.

Last year, she said, a lot of students were asking for activities other than athletics.

Her ultimate goal is to have the students put on their own production at the end of the school year.

DAREarts acted as an introduction and taught students the skills they'll need in pre-production to post-production, such as lighting, script writing and set design.

"The goal is to instil leadership, self-confidence and tap into the potential of so many of them that don't always necessarily get to show their skills and their strengths," said Donohue.

"Because we don't necessarily have a lot of drama, theatre, arts programs up here."

"It gives them that medium to grow in and find something that maybe within their niche."

Grade 4 student Mikayla Jacobson said her favourite part of preparing for the performance was working with her peers and having fun.

She said she hopes there will be that same camaraderie next time.

Gruben said she wants the year-end show to be a freeing experience.

"The things I want to see is everybody out of their shell," she said.

"And not being shy and doing what they love to do just for them.

"And the audience seeing the outcome of what kids can do with just their imagination and their strengths."

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